1998 Honda Accord Complaint Log

WHITE HOUSE FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION OF 12/22/05 DEATH OF MOTHER IN CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING AIRBAGS AND SAFETY BELTS POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE. *TS THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A FIRE HYDRANT, TRAINING WALL AND A TELEPHONE POLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MASSIVE HEAD INJURIES WHICH RESULTED IN DEATH. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAPS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER FROM BEING THROWN FORWARDS INTO THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP. A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ISSUED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ONE TO TWO MONTHS. SHE STATED IT HAPPENED ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WILL START AFTER SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. *AK

CAR DID FINE FOR A WHILE THEN IT WENT CRAZY ON US. ACCELERATOR PETAL STICKS, BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, HORN DOES NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, DOOR LOCKS WOULDN'T WORK, FRONT LEFT BLINKER WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES! *TR

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2005 .THAT SAME WEEK THE CAR STOPPED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS HOSTILE, AND TOLD HER SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. HOWEVER, SHE CALLED BEFORE SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. SHE WENT TO DEALER ON 9-7-05, AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE WAS NOT THERE. ON 9-14-05 SHE WENT TO THE DEALER AGAIN, AND HE WAS HOSTILE. DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER FINALLY LOOKED IT UP IN THE COMPUTER AND SAID THEY WOULD SERVICE IT UNDER THE RECALL. HE TOLD HER SHE COULD BRING THE CAR ANYTIME. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER THAT SHE WOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TOMORROW, AND HE TOLD HER HE WOULD NOT BE THERE. HE WAS EVASIVE ABOUT WHEN SHE SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN.*AK

MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD 2.3L WITH ONLY 117K MILES DEVELOPED TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES THAT WOULD EITHER LEAVE ME WITHOUT POWER BY SLIPPING OR DROP ME FROM 4TH GEAR SUDDENLY INTO 2ND. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I NEARLY RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. HONDA SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND NO EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FAILURES IN 1997 VERSUS 1998 MODELS SHOWS THAT THERE IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS POTENTIAL OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURES INTRODUCED IN 1998. HONDA REFUSED TO FIX THIS AND I HAD TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

DT: THE CALLER SAID THE FRONT CRADLE ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED. SHE SAID WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MADE A POPPING NOISE. PART WAS REPLACED. DEALER STILL HAS THE PART. DEALER SAID NOTHING ELSE WAS RUSTED, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PART EASY BECAUSE THAT PART DID NOT GO BAD THAT OFTEN. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE CALLER WANTED TO CALL NHTSA TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE RUSTED PART.*AK *NM

(1) DRIVING FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO OCEAN CITY,MARYLAND FOR VACATION AND THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHEN WE WERE ALMOST THERE. WE PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD AND CHECKED FLUIDS AND CAR AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE OKAY UNTIL WE COULD MAKE IT TO GARAGE. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN IN 4TH GEAR AND TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CAR STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT AND RPM'S WENT UP. (2) LET CAR SIT AND THEN TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN IN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS BUT SAME PROBLEM KEPT OCCURING. THEN WE PUT IT IN 2ND GEAR AND THAT WORKED FINE. WE DROVE IN 2ND GEAR GOING SLOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLACE WE DID NOT KNOW AND BARELY MADE IT TO THE BEACH WHERE MY CAR SAT THE WHOLE TIME AND WE COULD NOT DRIVE ANYWHERE. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FROM OCEAN CITY TO HARRISBURG, PA (ABOUT A 4 HOUR DRIVE) (3) AFTER TALKING WITH A HONDA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN AND OTHERS WE DETERMINED IT WAS THE TRANMISSION GOING OUT. MY CAR IS STILL SITTING AND I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I AM GOING TO DO CONSIDERING A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTS 3 TO 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS AS I WAS TOLD BY HONDA. THIS IS GREAT CONSIDERING I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVE 3 YEARS TO PAY ON IT AND IT ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT.

1998 HONDA ACCORD,VIN:[XXX]. REPLACED STOPLIGHT SWITCH #[XXX], THREE TIMES IN 100,338 MILES. SWITCH ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE CAR OUT OF PARK. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WHEN PART FAILS, YOU ARE STRANDED WHERE EVER YOU ARE, WITH CAR STUCK IN PARK. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ON MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC (2 DOOR), FAILED/FAILS TO OPEN. PASSENGER THOUGHT DOOR HAD BEEN LOCKED BY DRIVER BUT DOOR FAILED TO OPEN EVEN AFTER IT WAS REPEATEDLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED IN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DOOR HAS NOT OPENED SINCE. PASSENGER MUST CLIMB OUT WINDOW OR CRAWL OVER DRIVER SEAT TO EXIT CAR. WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF AUTO ACCIDENT OCCURRED ESPECIALLY IF EXIT FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS IMPOSSIBLE. CHILDREN RIDE IN THIS CAR AND OWNER FEARS FOR THEIR SAFETY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED BUT DEALER ASKED FOR OVER $400 TO REPLACE INSIDE DOOR PARTS AND ALSO STATED $400 MORE WOULD BE REQUIRED IF DOOR PANEL WAS BROKEN AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE IT. DOOR PANEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE WITH DOOR STUCK SHUT. OWNER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH MANUFACTURING OF CAR AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY MANUFACTURER WITHOUT CHARGE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI CAR COLLISION, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS FAILED. THE REAR AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. UPON REAR IMPACT, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE SEATS RECLINED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AT THE SCENE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD V6 STARTED FAILING AT 116K MILES. THE CAR BEGAN MISSING OUT AND THEN LURCHING FORWARD WHEN DRIVING, CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $2,200. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH '98 HONDAS, AS WELL AS THE 200 AND 2001 MODELS.

I PUT THE SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH MY CAR ON THE THE CAR THEOTHER DAY. IT APPEARED TO BE A NEW TIRE. IT WAS A BF GOODRICH TOURING T/A SR4 205/70R15 THAT CAME WITH MY HONDA CRV WHEN I BOUGHT IT TWO YEARS AGO. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TREAD CAME LOOSE. IT BEAT UP MY BUMPER AND CAUSED IT TO COME LOOSE AND TORE UP THE LIGHT WIRING BESIDE IT. THE WLAMART FELLOW SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A FAULTY TREAD. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER AND LIGHT AS WELL AS HAVE A NEW TIRE.

DT: CALLER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 03088 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH KEY INTERLOCK. THE KEY WOULD COME OUT IN ANY GEAR, AND THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT. CURRENTLY, THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN IT IS IN PARK. DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS CALLER PAYS FOR IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON JULY 18, 2005 TO GET IT FIXED.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 7, 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BE REPAIRED. THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE SHOULD GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HER OWN EXPENSE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED OVER 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION OPERATES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MAY OF 2005. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. HAD CATYLITIC CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS, LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER ONLY 30 MILES WITH DIFFERENT ERROR CODE. I WONDER HOW LONG HONDA WILL LET THIS PROBLEM GO WITH OUT RECOGNIZING THERE IS A OBD COMPUTER PROBLEM! IF THIS IS NOT FIXED SOON I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA.

DURING PERIODS OF WET WEATHER, HIGH HUMIDITY, POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, AND RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT FUNCTION FROM DRIVER'S SEAT LOCATIONL. NO PARTS REPLACED. PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESOLVE ITSELF WHEN HUMIDITY DROPS AND THINGS DRY OUT.

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD TWO AXLES REPLACED, AS WELL AS ROTORS AND BREAKS REPLACED TWICE. THE BRAKES WEAR, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN PUSHED. RECENTLY I WENT TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER AND FAILED BECAUSE OF THE EMISSIONS PART. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE A BULB IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO SENSOR, MY THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE IS SUPPOSEDLY A PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK EVAPORATIVE EMISSION VALVE. RECENTLY MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO ROLL. IT HAS ALSO TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND WOULD NOT START FOR TEN MINUTES. I HAVE INVESTED ALMOST 1500 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR AND HOPEFULLY REIMBURSE ME FOR PAST REPAIRS. *NM

I OWN A HONDA ACCORD 1998, EX 4D SEDAN, VIN: [XXX]. SOMETIMES WHEN I MAKE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLS AND STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! IT USED TO HAPPEN ONCE A FEW MONTHS. BUT NOW IT OCCURS ONCE A DAY! I TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE IT SINCE THE PROBLEM IS IRREPRODUCIBLE BY THEM. HOWEVER, THEY SAID IT?S VERY LIKELY AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE IT. I CHECKED HONDA?S WEB SITE AND FOUND THERE?RE TWO RECALLS ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH FOR 98 ACCORDS, WHICH ARE 03-088 AND 02-031. BUT THOSE TWO RECALLS DON?T COVER MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL CARS REGARDING THE KEY CYLINDER. PROBLEM HAPPENS TO AUTOMATIC CAR?S KEY CYLINDER CAN EQUALLY HAPPEN TO MANUAL CAR?S TOO! I WONDER IF HONDA COULD INCLUDE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR THE RECALLS TOO, OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH?*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DECEMBER 2004: REC'D A LETTER FROM HONDA, INC. STATING: CERTAIN 1998-99 ACCORDS DO NOT MEET STATE AND FEDERAL EMISSIONS REGULATIONS. DURING SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS, YOUR VEHICLE MAY EMIT A LEVEL OF EMISSIONS ABOVE STANDARDS SET BY THE EPA AND CARB. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, YOUR HONDA DEALER WILL ADJUST THE AIR BLEED SCREW ON YOUR VEHICLE'S THROTTLE BODY. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE". <P> APRIL 2005: TOOK CAR TO ADDRESS THE RECALL/ISSUE. DURING THIS TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $900. THE CAR HAD AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THEY DETECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE ODOMETER STANDING AT 81,181. <P> I TOOK MY CAR TO MY NORMAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME I SHOULD ASK THE DEALER TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, BECAUSE HE KNEW FOR A FACT THAT A LOT OF HONDA ACCORDS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I DID AS HE SAID, AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY RETROACTIVELY. <P> JANUARY 2006: I AM INFORMED THAT IN 1998 AN AGREEMENT WAS ENTERED BY HONDA, THE EPA AND THE CARB. THEY ADMIT THAT THE CARS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE EMISSIONS AND OFFER CAR OWNERS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY, FREE INSPECTIONS AND FREE REPAIRS, INCLUDING ALL PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY ALL HONDA OWNERS ARE NOT TREATED ALIKE, SINCE THE COSTS THEY COVER ARE ONLY FOR CERTAIN 1995, 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE FROM HONDA ACCORD OWNERS. <P> I AM SEEKING A REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUS ALL LABOR. THE RECALL OF THE THROTTLE BODY AIR BLEED SCREW COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE CONVERTER TO EXPIRE PREMATURELY, AMONG OTHER UNKNOWNS. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT HONDA INC. SHOULD RETROACTIVELY HONOR THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY ON MY 1998 ACCORD. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 HONDA ACCORD V6 WITH 103000 MILES ON IT AND SUSPECTED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE 93000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT 20, 30, AND 40 MPH. I CALLED THE HONDA CORP IN CA AND TOLD THEM MY HONDA ACCORD EX V6 TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALER TO CHECK IT BEFORE I CAN MAKE A CLAIM ON IT. THE HONDA DEALER LOOKED AT IT SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THERE WILL BE A $90 FEE. THE DEALER AND I CALLED THE HONDA CORP TO PUT IN A CLAIM AND HE EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE COMPLETED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND A DAY LATER THE HONDA CORP CALLED THE DEALER AND DENIED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH MY CLAIM. I DID NOT EVEN RECEIVE A PHONE CALL BACK FROM THE HONDA CORP. THE DEALER CALLED ME TO TELL ME THE NEWS AND THEY GAVE ME A TRANSMISSION FOR OVER $4200. I CALL THE HONDA CORP AND SPOKE WITH KEVIN BROWN AND HE SAID CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP AND SORRY YOUR CASE IT CLOSED. HOW IS MY CASE CLOSED ONLY AFTER ONE DAY OF EVALUATION. KEVIN BROWN ALSO SAID THAT THE HONDA CORP HAS ASSISTED OTHER PEOPLE WITH 98 V6 ACCORDS WITH MORE MILES THAN I HAVE, BUT HE SAID THOSE CASES WERE DIFFERENT. HOW ARE OTHER CASES SO DIFFERENT WHEN I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. AFTER READING OTHER WEBSITES AND FORUMS, I CAN SEE THIS IS A MORE COMMON PROBLEM THEN I THOUGHT AND NOW I HAVE READ OVER 100 COMPLAINTS WITH HONDA ACCORD V6 98 AND 99 TRANSMISSIONS ON THE SITE. SOME ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN NOW!!!!!!!!!*AK THE CONSUMER DISPUTES NHTSA'S ASSESSMENT OF THE 1998 HONDA ACCORDS TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE CONSUMER FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES WHICH WERE VERY SIMILAR TO HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. *SC *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH . SOME OF THE 1998-1999 HONDA ACCORDS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM ,BUT THE DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF, AND THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. DEALER SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FAULTY WIRING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH . SHE DID QUALIFY FOR THE FIRST RECALL BUT NOT FOR THIS ONE.*AK

WHEN USING THE HORN IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE HORN FUSE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HORN WAS STICKING TO AIR BAG. *AK

FAULTY SEALANT ON BLACK ACCORD. PREMATURE DEGRADATION. BEGAN IN SMALL AREA ON ROOF. NOT TOO BAD AT FIRST. OVER PAST WINTER, SEALANT BREAKING DOWN IN ABOUT 15 PLACES. CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED AND NOT SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC CAR WASH (UNLESS THAT IS WHAT LOCAL HONDA DEALER USES). CONSIDERABLE DEVALUATION OF VEHICLE ADVERTISED AS HOLDING ITS VALUE. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION SLIPS, IT WILL GO INTO THIRD GEAR BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT IN TO SECOND GEAR. *AK

1) NOTHING NOTICEABLE. CAR WAS ABLE TO START ALL THE TIME COLD AND WARM. 2) CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN STEP ON GAS PEDAL CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. IT JUST SILENTLY STALLED. CENTER CONSOLE WHERE SHIFT-SELECTOR INDICATOR HAS NO POWER WHILE RADIO, HAZARDOUS SIGNALS WERE WORKING AFTER THE STALL. WEREN'T ABLE TO RESTART RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT 45 SEC TO 1 MIN, CAR STARTED NORMALLY. 3) DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE IAC VALVE AND MAIN RELAY ON MY EXPENSE BUT WILL NOT VERIFY THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY THAT WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS EARLIER EXCEPT THAT AN UPDATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS ALREADY INSTALLED. *NM

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR STARTED WITH HESITATION DURING COLD STARTS AS DESCRIBED BY NUMEROUS OTHER HONDA 98 ACCORDS. IT WOULD GET OUT OF PARK AND INTO 1ST GEAR JUST FINE, BUT WHEN GETTING OUT OF 1ST AND INTO 2ND, THE RPMS WOULD JUST SHOOT UP AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CATCH THE 2ND GEAR 2-5 SECONDS LATER. IN THOSE 2-5 SECONDS, THERE WOULD BE NO POWER TRANSFERRED TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CAR IS SO JERKY THAT SOMETIMES I SPIN OUT ON MY FRONT TIRES. THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN LOOKED AT BY HONDA, BUT THEY WANTED $5,000 FOR THE REPAIR; THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY DID THE REPAIR FOR 2,200. WE'VE BEEN INTO THEIR SHOP TWICE NOW IN THEIR 1 YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THE HESITATION HAS COME BACK. THE CAR HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES ON IT AND I DON'T DRIVE IT HARD AT ALL. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THESE UNITS AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. *NM

AT 88,740 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE/SHAKE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC HAD TO TURN THE FRONT ROTORS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND BEING OUT OF ROUND. NOW, AT THE PRESENT TIME WITH 100.000 MILES OF WEAR THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AND THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDS TO BE TURNED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB

THE BRAKE ROTORS WEAR PREMATURELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THE PART IS UNDER ENGINEERED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A DUPLICATE FAILURE PER NHTSA RECALL #02V120000 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START NORMALLY, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND OCCASIONALLY STARTED AGAIN. HONDA STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT RECALL RELATED, AND THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH COLUMN REPLACED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED ALL OF THE COMPONENTS EXCEPT THE ONES THAT WERE RELATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL ON THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106000.*AK

1998 HONDA ACCORD 4DR 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 50000 MILES ,VERY DANGEROUS THE FIRST TIME IT SLIPPED FROM 4TH GEAR INTO 2ND DOING 75 MPH ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. HONDA REFUSED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ESTIMATES FORM TRANSMISSION SHOPS $2000-$4000 FOR THE REPAIR. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM

I PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY FRIDAY NIGHT AND TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, INTO THE YARD, AND HIT A TREE WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. SINCE THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THIS VERY REASON, BUT I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY SAID THAT I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BECAUSE THE CAR STILL HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNERS INFO IN THEIR SYSTEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A HONDA DEALERSHIP, YET THEY SAID THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT THEM TO CHANGE THE INFORMATION OVER TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTACT ME WITH RECALL INFORMATION. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. WOULD HONDA NOT HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ACCIDENT?*AK

MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD'S MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND SERVICED AT HONDA. I ONLY HAVE 49,000 ACTUAL MILES ON MY 98 HONDA. THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ALSO, WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN BEGIN TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL LUNGE. FURTHERMORE, WHEN ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I HAVE TO RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL AND KEEP PRESSING AND RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL THE GEAR WILL MOVE. HONDA HAS NOW INFORMED ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS; A NEW TRANSMISSION ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 49,000 MILES? HONDA HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION FOR NO CHARGE OF THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR COSTS. HONDA OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS, WHY SHOULD I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR COSTS?I HOPE I'M NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME FAULTY TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MY HONDA. THIS WEBSITE CONTAINS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HOPEFULLY, AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS FATALITIES. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79,000 MILES. CONSUMER THEN PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY AT 106,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. *AK

AT 66,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND SHIFT GEARS ROUGHLY. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD "CLUNK". THEN AS I ACCELERATED I WOULD HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS SO IT COULD SHIFT EACH GEAR. I TOOK IT TO A MIDAS SHOP FOR A TRANSMISSION SERVICE - NEW FILTER/FLUSH, ETC. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING FLUID. ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED TWO NEW AXLES AND AXLE SEALS TO FIX THE LEAK. BY THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATO WAS ON SO I WANTED HONDA TO LOOK AT IT SINCE I HAD RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT LOW MILES. HONDA CARS OF COLUMBIA, SC SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS PO740 TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. A HONDA ACCORD WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES SHOULD NOT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM AWARE THAT HONDA RECALLED 2000 AND 2001 TRANSMISSIONS BUT NOT 1998,1999 OR 2002 EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS. HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS' GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR FROM A CERTIFIED HONDA DEALER OR PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE "GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE" SHOWS THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS. THEY HAVE REPLACED OTHER OWNERS TRANSMISSIONS, WHY NOT MINE?*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V018000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO GILMAND'S HONDA FOR REPAIRS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. CONSUMER WAS STILL WAITING TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MOVES AND THEN JERKS AND STOPS. *TC

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING HIS CAR. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

1998 HONDA ACCORD HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. STARTED SLIPPING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM JUST GOT WORST OVER TIME. WE FINALLY HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. OUT OF ALL THE CARS I'VE HAD, NEW OR OLD, NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND ALSO FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE , HOWEVER IT WOULD ONLY GO 20 MILES PER HOUR. DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN JULY 03 AT 110K MILES, CODE P0420. TO PASS EMISSIONS, AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL SOURCES, I REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITH AN OEM REPLACEMENT ($250 INSTEAD OF $800 FROM THE DEALERSHIP). THE C.E. LIGHT HAS NOW COME BACK ON WITH THE SAME CODE AS BEFORE, P0420. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S EMISSION SYSTEM OR IT'S SENSORS. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR 11 MONTHS WITH THE NEW C.C.. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE I HAVE BURNED THROUGH ANOTHER C. CONVERTER IN 25K MILES. I SEE THE COURT RULING IN 1998 THAT HONDA HAD LEFT MISFIRING MONITORING DEVICE IN THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTICS (OBD) FOR PRE-1998 MODELS DISABLED. IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT DETECTED IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF HYDROCARBONS AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES CATALYST. I WILL NOT PAY $250 PER YEAR TO CONTINUALLY REPLACE CONVERTERS. *JB

1998 HONDA ACCORD W/ 8 WAY POWER SEAT. HAVE HAD TWO WELD FAILURES OF FRONT TORQUE TUBE TO LIFT LEVERS. FIRST FAILURE WAS LEFT HAND CORNER TWO YEARS AGO. REPAIRED THIS BREAK MYSELF WITH TIG WELD, THE DEALER WOULD NOT WARRANT THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND HONDA'S 36MO/36K WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON CENTER LIFT LEVER THIS PAST NOVEMBER, 2004. MY SEAT FREELY AND LOOSELY ROCKS BACK AND FORTH THE NORMAL FRONT SEAT TILT TRAVEL. I ASKED MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT MENTIONED BY HONDA IN DEFECT SUMMARY NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE02072. I WAS TOLD MY ACCORD HAD TOO MANY MILES (140,000). MY REPLACEMENT COST FOR THIS OVER $300.00 OR DISASSEMBLE THE FRAME AND REDO ALL THE "COLD" WELDS. THE WELDS ON THIS SEAT FRAME ARE DEFECTIVE. NONE OF THEM APPEAR TO HAVE PROPER PENETRATION. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, SIMILAR TO A DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELT. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY COOPERATION FROM MY HONDA DEALER CONTRARY TO HONDA'S STATEMENT, THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING "...NO-COST REINFORCEMENT FOR THE SEAT...". *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TC

HEARD "THUMPING" TYPE NOISE IN 1998 HONDA ACCORD WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER WHERE ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED BUT THEN INFORMED THAT BEARING IN TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE DESPITE THE VEHICLE'S IMPECCABLE SERVICE RECORDS, LOW MILES, AND EXCELLENT CONDITION. REMANUFACTURED HONDA TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, BUT THE PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THOSE OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS FAILURE DESERVE FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM HONDA.

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND THE STEERING BECAME STIFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AT THIS TIME HE CAN NO LONGER STEER THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING SOUND. HE STATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. HE HAS TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *JB

THE HORN FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND LURCHING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DIAGNOSED AS A BEARING FAILURE DUE TO POSSIBLE GROUND STRAP FAILURE. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND TORQUE CONVERTER REBUILT. GROUND STRAP, 1 SET OF DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER BEARINGS REPLACED. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. IT WENT OFF WITHOUT ANYTHING BEING DONE. SINCE THEN THE CEL HAS GONE ON AND OFF FOR 4-5 TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR IN OKIMOTO'S FOR SERVICE AND THEY FOUND PO420, CATALYTIC CONVERTER INEFFICIENCY. THIS IS ON A 1998 HONDA ACCORD, THAT HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED. TOOK THE CAR TO NORM REEVES AND THE GOT THE SAME CODE PO420. COST OF REPAIR $1000. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CEL AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER TURNING OFF CAR IN THE "PARK" POSITION. *AK